SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 10:26 Min.
This NWA U.S. Championship bout was contested at The Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, MD. It was a semi-main event for The Great American Bash: Glory Days card held on July 23, 1989.
Having recently turned heel, U.S. Champion “The Total Package” Lex Luger arrogantly insists upon the no-disqualification stipulation be waived or he will refuse to wrestle. Eager for personal vengeance after his beatdown by Luger the month before, Steamboat supposedly has no choice but to acquiesce to Luger’s demands. Hence, the bout subsequently takes place under pro wrestling’s standard title defense rules.
At ringside are commentators Jim Ross and Bob Caudle. The bout occurs inside a double-ring due to the War Games bout (Road Warriors/Midnight Express/Steve “Dr. Death” Williams vs. The Freebirds/Samoans) on the same card.
Notes: Steamboat’s then-wife, Bonnie, and their young son make a customary cameo appearance during Steamboat’s extended ring introduction. Reminiscent of his 1986 WWF encounters with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Steamboat brings a presumably sedated Komodo dragon with him to ringside.
REVIEW:
While “The Total Package” falls short of the same match chemistry that “Ravishing” Rick Rude had with Ricky Steamboat, the end result is still solid. Both the spry Steamboat and Luger (despite his somewhat limited move set) ensure that fans are entertained by a well-choreographed brawl. Though heavily alluded to beforehand, the match’s inevitably cheap finish isn’t as bad as it may sound.
If anything, Steamboat’s rarely seen sadistic streak makes Luger evidently his most ‘hated’ adversary since his epic 1987 WWF Intercontinental Title feud with “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Given its less-than-decisive ending, this slightly-above-average showdown isn’t necessarily must-see viewing. Catching a glimpse of the short-lived Steamboat vs. Luger feud, however, still makes for some fun nostalgia.
Note: Prior to the NWA’s next Pay-Per-View, the inaugural Halloween Havoc ’89, Steamboat quietly quit the NWA. Hence, his title feud with Luger was abruptly dropped, with Brian Pillman soon inserted as Steamboat’s replacement.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars
